Match-book package



June 16, 1942. Y

W; GARTELMAN MATCH BOOK PACKAGE Filed June 1, 1939 IN V EN TOR.

WM C. GARTELMAN.

BY XM7LTORNEY t Patented June 16,1942

2,,583 Ton-nook re Wm c. a

Application lie 1, N39, 4 1

This invention relates to an improvement in a package of matches of the form generally c s m Nay.

own as vest pocket or book matches holder which is usually constructed of paper or cardboard or other suitable material, and has for its object to provide a'package which shall be so constructed that the possibility of accident by reason of the package becoming accidentally ignited is avoided.

It is known that the majority of persons using this kind of a holder where the striker surface is on the turned over end of the folder, usually open the folding holder, detach a match, and before closing the cover strike the match on said striker surface and quite often, especially where the person is inattentive, possibly attention being attracted in other directions, the lighted match travels in a nus-guided direction close to the heads of the adjacent matches and the entire package becomes ignited from the flame of the lighted match; therefore it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a positive match striking guide and avoid this type of accident.

Many schemes have been proposed for the modification of the ordinary type of hook-match package so that the ignitible heads of the tch pack are protected from the flame or sparks of amatch which is not guided while being ignited.

All such schemes with which I am familiar, are subject to one or more objections, among which are that they are complicated, dimcult to manipulate, expensive to manufacture and require changes in the machinesnow employed in the production of the matches.

. One feature of my present invention is to provide a match package with a simple flame guard or auxiliarycover for the matches which obviates the necessity of refolding the outside cover flap before the act of striking the match on the striker surface, said guard extending beneath the narrow retaining fold of the package, said guard having abrasive material applied thereon and adjacent the upper edge of said retaining fold, said fold being turned outwardly to receive the free end of the cover flap and also to provide a positive guide for the head of the detached match while being ignited by drawing the same pocket or elsewhere in which said bookmatch flap lies upon or over the ignitible heads at all Q times except when a match is being extracted, the flap carrying a striking surface, with a positive match striking guide adjacent thereto, all of which cannot be efiectively used for match operations except when the flap is in a shielding position over the heads of the re mang matches.

And another feature of the present invention, the safety or protection flame guard is so formed d mounted that the striking surface on said guard is necessarily and certainly concealed and protected by the cover of the book-match package when said book is in a closed position. Thus, this surface is not damaged by moisture result= ing from perspiration or other causes, and not ruined by contact withcther objects within a package is carried.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like refer-, ence characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a form of book-match package embodying my invention, the entire folder and flame guard being formed of one piece of paper or other suitable material.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the match package $10 a Figure 1, the cover in semi-open posi- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the book-match package, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, now being shown in match striking position.

Referring to the drawing, a match-book comprising the usual comb or combs of paste board or cardboard individually severable or removable matches 5 and 8 are shown, two combs of which are usually superposed as specifically shown in Figure 2, as well as the other views in this application, the unslit base portion of the comb of matches being suitably attached as by a. wire staple I to the'lower folded edge portion 8 of said book. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the

cover is constructed of a back portion III, a lower retaining tab i I, an upper portion [2, a front flap M and a flame protective flap IS. The lower edge or free end IQ of flap i4 is usually tucked behind the upper edge I! of the retaining tab II when the package is in closed position. The flame guard flap I5 is usually sufllciently long to extend beyond the ends of the matches, being preferably curved at' the free end thereof as indicated at l8, so as to more effectively protect as adhesive, and preferably without staples, so

that said strip will present an unobstructed striking surface, as it is desired that the head of the match, while being ignited by drawing same across said striking surface, will be positively guided only by the upper edge I! and will not encounter any other obstructions.

From the drawing ilustrating my invention and from the above objects and description, it is thought that the operation and advantages of my invention will be apparent without undue description. Briefly the cover I4 is opened in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 1, and in doing so the flap I5 will remain to protect the matches there enclosed, said flap can be easily swung outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, when de-. sired. For instance, the package may be gripped between the thumb and fingers of one hand, said guard 15 held outwardly by one of said fingers and in this manner will not interfere with the withdrawal of a match from said match comb by the thumb and index finger of the other hand. Due to the inherent resiliency of said guard, it

'will snap back into normal position guarding said matches when allowed to do the same. In order to strike a match on the abrasive strip 25 said withdrawn match can be drawn or pushed across the strip '25, and by exerting a slight pressure downwardly with said match against the upper edge ll of strip ll, said edge acts as a positive guide, thereby minimizing the possibility of accidently drawing said ignited match close to the heads of the matches remaining in said package, thus preventing accidentally igniting said match heads. Thus, by providing a match guide, for example the edge as indicated by numeral I1, and also providing the striking surface 25 where it cannot be used until the remaining matches are shielded by a flap or the like, protection against accidental ignition of the heads of the remaining matches is assured.

After .the withdrawn match is ignited by one of the methodsas shown in Fig. 3 the cover may be closed by tucking the free end l6 thereof behind the upper edge l1 and upper portion of retainer flap ll.

age, thereby being protected from atmospheric moisture, or moisture resulting from any other cause such as body perspiration which would damage said surface. Said cover will also protect said abrasive surface from damage by it coming in contact with other articles as found in the ordinary pocket or car compartment.

' Furthermore, when said folder and flame guard are desired to be formed from a single piece of material as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the lower end of said back portion I0 is folded around the lower edge portion 8 of said package and upwardly forming retainer flap H and a match guide II, it is then folded downwardly forming a reinforcing member for said member II, and then folded upwardly'forming the flameguard flap I5. I

By using the above types of construction, these match-book packages may contain a maximum amount of advertising or other forms of printed publicity matter, and in addition, the package will embody an elementof novelty and mechanical appeal which will stimulate the curiosity of the user and advertiser, and also compel the safety leagues or departments of all States in the United States to suggest the use of the same. By means of my invention I have also provided a device whereby such matches as are usually carried in paper or cardboard packages and are usually of such'frail stem construction as-to be easily destroyed by breaking the stem when the package is within a pocket or the like, this construction provides suitable reinforcing members and suitable protection.

Various changes may be made in the construction of my device without departing from the spirit of my invention .or the scope of the subjoined claims. g

What I claim is: 1. A book match package having in combination, combs of matches; a cover comprising a single strip of material with an intermediate portion passing in back of .the matches; a short stub section of said cover folded over upon itself in front of the supporting ends of the matches and secured thereto to form a retaining tab; an end portion adjacent said stub section extending upwardly and over the match heads to form an inner cover to protect the ignitible heads from sparks and from coming in contact with movable sections, said portion also having. an abrasive section formed on its outer surface adiacent its fixed end thereof; the other free end of said strip of material extending upwardly behind said matches and over the match heads and down in front thereof to form a front flap and arranged to have its lower end inserted behind said tab when in closed position; said retaining tab having its folded edge portion arranged to form with said abrasive striking section a guide shoulder lengthwise of said striking section secured adiacent thereto when outer cover is in open position. 2. A book match package having in combina-- tion, a comb of matches; a cover comprising a tion passing in back of the matches; a-short tab In this closed position, the abrasive surface 25 will be enclosed within the packsection of said cover folded over upon itself in front of the supporting ends of the matches and secured thereto to form a retaining tab; an end portion adjacent said tab section extending upwardly and over the match heads to form an irmer protective cover and having a striking section formed on its outer surface adjacent the fixed end thereof; the other free end of said strip of material extending upwardly behind said front thereof to form a front flap and arranged to have its lower. end inserted behind said tab when in closed position; said retaining tab havmg its folded edge portion arranged to form with said striking section a guide shoulder lengthwise of said striking sectionv and secured adjacent v thereto by'a metallic member having a plurality of means arranged to prevent vertical'displacement of said inner cover when used in conjunction with said guide when said outer cover is'in open position, said folded edge or guide shoulder being at a higher level than the lower edge of sad striking section but not in contact with each 0 er.

3. A folding book-matchlpackage with-combs of matches secured with their heads at different amuse" a 3 leveis' having a match enclosing wrapper made of a single piece of material and composed in seriatim of aflame protective member portion,

' retaining flap portion, a lower endportion, a back portion, a top end portion and a hinged front I 10 position. upper end extending freely upwards and curvinl over said match heads arranged in rows to rotect the higher level row from contacting the front cover portion, the lower portion'oi said time member provided with abrasive match striking material, the upper end orthe retainer flap portion being rolled and flared outwardly forming a match strikingguide' when a match is scratched on the abrasive material, on said protective member when the cover is in open WIILIAM c. GARTEIMAN. 

